Relay

Abstract

The pressing member is configured to move to an off-position and an on-position. When the pressing member is located at the off-position, the first contact and the second contact come into a non-contact state. When the pressing member is located at the on-position, the first contact and the second contact come into a contact state by press of the pressing member against the contact piece. The actuator moves the pressing member from the off-position to the on-position via an overshoot position located beyond the on-position. The contact piece includes a body, and a low rigidity portion having rigidity lower than rigidity of the body. The pressing member presses the low rigidity portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A relay comprising:
 a first contact; 
 a terminal to which the first contact is attached; 
 a second contact disposed at a position facing the first contact; 
 a contact piece to which the second contact is attached; 
 a pressing member configured to move to an off-position at which the first contact and the second contact come into a non-contact state, and an on-position at which the first contact and the second contact come into a contact state by press of the pressing member against the contact piece; and 
 an actuator configured to move the pressing member from the off-position to the on-position via an overshoot position located beyond the on-position, wherein 
 the contact piece includes a body and a low rigidity portion having rigidity lower than rigidity of the body, and 
 the pressing member presses the low rigidity portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein the low rigidity portion has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the body. 
     
     
       3. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the contact piece includes a plurality of leaf springs laminated on each other, and 
 the low rigidity portion includes the leaf springs fewer in number than the leaf springs included in the body. 
 
     
     
       4. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein the low rigidity portion is located on a leading end side of the contact piece with respect to the second contact. 
     
     
       5. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein the low rigidity portion has a width smaller than a width of the body. 
     
     
       6. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact piece includes a slit formed between the low rigidity portion and the body. 
     
     
       7. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the low rigidity portion includes a first low rigidity portion and a second low rigidity portion, and 
 the first low rigidity portion and the second low rigidity portion are extended in a lengthwise direction of the contact piece from the body, and disposed away from each other in a widthwise direction of the contact piece. 
 
     
     
       8. The relay according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the body includes a contact attaching portion disposed between the first low rigidity portion and the second low rigidity portion, the second contact being attached to the contact attaching portion, and 
 the contact piece includes
 a first slit formed between the first low rigidity portion and the contact attaching portion, and extended in the lengthwise direction of the contact piece, and 
 a second slit formed between the second low rigidity portion and the contact attaching portion, and extended in the lengthwise direction of the contact piece. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The relay according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the first slit and the second slit reaches a position on a proximal end side of the contact piece with respect to the second contact. 
     
     
       10. The relay according to  claim 7 , wherein the low rigidity portion further includes a junction configured to join the first low rigidity portion and the second low rigidity portion. 
     
     
       11. The relay according to  claim 10 , wherein the pressing member presses the junction. 
     
     
       12. The relay according to  claim 7 , wherein the pressing member presses the first low rigidity portion and the second low rigidity portion. 
     
     
       13. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein a pressing position formed in the low rigidity portion and pressed by the pressing member is located on a leading end side of the contact piece with respect to the second contact. 
     
     
       14. The relay according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a retaining member configured to latch the pressing member to retain the pressing member at the on-position.